Revision summary
Technology Missions are target-driven Union crop programmes packing research, seed, and processing. The 1986 oilseeds mission set the model; pulses, maize, cotton, and horticulture followed. NFSM, NMOOP, MIDH, NMSA, and NMAET are the successor named missions. Usefulness: coordinated seed and extension, some cut in oilseed/pulse import gap, diet diversity. Soil Health Card, PM-KISAN, and e-NAM now complete the last mile and market.
Model answer
Introduction
A Technology Mission in agriculture is a time-bound, target-driven Union programme that packs research, seed, extension, and processing around one crop or constraint. India first used the model in the 1980s for oilseeds; later food-security and horticulture missions inherited the same design.
Body
What the mission is
- The Technology Mission on Oilseeds (1986) and later pulses, maize, oil palm, cotton, and horticulture missions set yield, area, and processing targets instead of open-ended departmental spend.
- Scientists, State agriculture departments, and industry sat on one platform so that seed, pest advice, and mills moved together.
- National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, and the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology are the named successors.
Usefulness
- Oilseed and pulse missions cut some import pressure by raising domestic output where seed and minikits actually reached the farmer.
- Horticulture and food-security missions diversified diets and supported potato, fruit, and rice–wheat belts, including in Uttar Pradesh.
- Soil Health Card, PM-KISAN, and e-NAM now sit beside those missions so that technology is not only a lab packet but also soil data and a market.
Flow diagram
flowchart TD T[Technology Mission] --> O[Oilseeds pulses horticulture] O --> N[NFSM NMOOP MIDH NMSA] N --> U[Higher yield less import] S[Soil Health Card e-NAM] --> U
Conclusion
Technology Mission agriculture is targeted crop-and-constraint programming, begun with oilseeds. Its usefulness is coordinated seed, extension, and processing; NFSM, NMOOP, MIDH, NMSA, and NMAET still carry that method.
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ICAR supplies science. The mission is the delivery vehicle that sets area and yield targets with States.
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Did oilseed missions end import of edible oil?
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